Method of epimerizing 11-bromo steroids



June 14,-1960 P. L.. JULIAN EVAL METHOD oF EPIMERIZINC- :Ll-BRoMo sTERoIDs Filed March l, 1957 um o z o a :c z :o

United States Patent METHOD OF EPIMERIZING II-BROMO STEROIDS Percy L. Julian, Oak Park, and Arthur Magnani, Wilmette, lll., assignors to The Julian Laboratories, inc., Franklin Park, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 1, 1957, ser. No. 643,353

1 claims. (c1. 25u-.39145) This invention relates to novel steroid compounds and to processes for their preparation. The compounds of this invention are particularly useful as intermediates in the preparation of cortical hormones kwhich have useful therapeutic activity.

The cortical hormones, particularly cortisone, hydrocortisone and various derivatives thereof, have found widespread utilization in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions. At present, these cortical Vhormones are obtained from raw material sources, namely, lbile acids and Vegetal sterols. In both instances, the problem of converting the starting material, eg., desoxycholic acid from bile acids, and stigmasterol, smilagenin, diosgenin or hecogenin from vegetal sterols, into a desired intermediate which contains an oxygen function attached to the ll-position-of the steroid nucleus has provided a major obstacle due to the complex nature of the synthetic methods involved. The bile `acid synthesis of Kendall as well as the microbiological oxidation procedures currently known lto the art are laborious and expensive methods -for the introduction of the 11 oxygen function. The process of this invention solves this important problem in employing a synthetic route for-introducing Van oxygen function into the 11position which employs steps that are carried out in excellent yields.

Similarly, the 17-side chain of the natural products f mentioned herebefore, containing a 12-oxygen function, eg., desoxycholic acid and/orvhecogenin, also may be degraded to a 17-oxygen function by methods described in the prior art. The resulting compounds, of course,

Vwould be 12-oxygenated testane and androstane derivatives which also could be submitted to the process of this invention (after converting the 17-oxygen to a hydroxy group), thereby converting the l2-oxygen function to the ample, the :nc-hydroxyethylene moiety or a hydroxyl -radical, does not have the disadvantages of the more complex l7-substituents utilized by the processes of the prior art since it does not react under the Various steps of the process to form undesirable side products. Furthermore, the degradation of the complex side chain in ring D, for instance the l7-w-carboxyalkylene moiety of desoxycholic Vacid or the typical genin moiety of hecogenin, as an early step in the procedure results in an economical advantage ove'r degradation after the 12 to ll oxygen shift.

lt is a further object of our invention to provide novel intermediates and valuable processes useful in the synthcsisgof cortisone and related compounds yfrom bile acids and hecogenin. Another objectof our invention is to 2,940,991 Patented .lune ld, 1960 vrto point out that reduction providing an OH group inthe 12-position results in a mixture of compounds, some having the OH'bonded by a bond in the a position and some by a bond in the position. In the starting material triols either the' 12u01 or 12 ol compounds or a mixture thereof may be employed. The structural formulas herein and in the claims are intended to cover both `the l12a ols and 12;? ols where discussed and/or claimed.

It is `also ydesired to point out that the steroid compounds discussed vand claimed exist in either the 3a,5 or 3,5a form. The structural formulas in the description and claims are .intended to cover both of these forms.

The starting materials are either well known or obvious to those skilled in the art. The desired preguane-3a,12z, Tie-trial starting material is produced Yfrom the known pregnane-3@,lZa-diol-ZO-one diacetate which can be obtained from desoxycholic acid, by reduction of the 20- keto group using either a chemical reducing agent, such as abimetallic anhydride`, for instance sodium borohydride .in an aqueousorganicsolvent, such as aqueous methanol or lithium aluminumhydride in a dry organic solvent, such as ethyl ether' or tetrahyd'rofuran, or catalytically, -for instance with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, Vsuch as Raney nickel in alcoholic `solution. The resulting diacetate is hydrolyzed to the 3a, .121,205 triol with an alkaline solution, for instance with potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide in aqueous methanol.

The known allopregnane-3-ol-12,20-dione acetate, obtained from hecogenin by typical genin degradative oxidation of the acetate with chromium oxide, is similarly reduced to give the allopregnane-3,l2a,()ZO-triol starting material. The testane starting material, testane 3,12,17/8triol, is produced from pregnane3a,12adiol Ztl-one diacetate by perbenzoic acid oxidation, followed by hydrolysis of the acetate groups. Androstane-S/SJZ, 17-trio1 is similarly 4prepared from a1lopregnane3ol 12,20-dione acetate.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the pregnane, allopregnane, testane orYandrostane-tr'iol (I) selected, depending upon the en d producttrione desired, is preferentially oxidized atposition l2. ,Blockingthe hydroxyl groups in the 3 and17 or 20 positions isesseutial in order to accomplish a dclean-cut reaction (to facilitate the following description, Y will lDefused,hereinafter to indicate the 17 or ZG position)l This' isjaccomplishedby blocking these` positions with a suitable acyl group, ,for example, either auf aromatic acyl group such as ybenzoyl, hemiphthalyl or toluyl or by a lower alk-anoyl Vgroup such as propionyl, butyryl or preferably by an acetyl or hemisuccinyl group. Acylation is accomplished by acylating Withthe appropriateacyl anhydride or acyl chloride in basic solution ysuch asY in an excess of a tertiary amine, for instance pyridine, collidine, or picoline or in an inert solvent such as dmethyIfOrmamde, acetone or dimethylacetamide with about one equivalent of an acid binding agent, for instance pyridine, tributylarnine or picoline. rifhe resulting 3,l2,Y/3triol3,Y-diacylate (Il) then is oxidized with -a suitable oxidizing agent, for example, chromic acid in aqueous acidfsolution, for example, vaqueous acetic acid or chromio oxide` in basic solution, for example,` in

'pyridineY solution, to form the correspondng 3,Y,S-diol 12-one diacylate (III).

When the 3Y'b1ocking acyl groups contain centers reactive under the bromination conditions later employed in the process, it is necessary to hydrolyze the blockingV Y such as silver oxide-pyridine.

cilic example, thea-'procedure Where the hemirsuccinyl 'moiety isemployed isas followszfDiacylation with, for example, succinyl anhydride in an excess of tertiary amine, such as. pyridine, or in an. inert solvent,V such nas dimethylformamide, acetone -or dioxane Ywivthran equivalent of iacilbindingagent, for example, pyridine, tributylamine or Ypicoline, normally first produces a mixture Vof the mono'- Yand dihemisuccinatesr `.The monohemisuccinate, upon retreatment, produces. a further quantity of the dihemisuccinate (IV The thus formed 3,Y-dihemisuccinate (IV)Y then isY oxidized'with an .oxidizing.agent, as Ydescribed above, preferably iwith chromic acid in faqueous aceticY acid solutionor with chromic oxide in pyridine solutiontojrthe desired 3,Y-dio1-12-,one dihemisuccinate. VThe protective' groups inf the 3. and Y-positions 'then are hydrolyzed by alkali, for example, potassium or sodium hydroxide in alcohol,Y for example, methanolor Aisopropanol, or in. anaqueousV alcohol'mixture, forexample, aqueous methanoLethanol, isopropanol or butanoLTThe resultingV 3,Y-Vdiol-12-one (V) can Since only the 12a-hydroxy form of the triol VII is converted to the epoxy compound VIII, this form, if desired, can first be separated from the 12a-hydroxy and 12e-hydroxy mixture (VII) by, for example, fractional crystallization.

The' thus formed 1118,172-ep`oxide (VIII) Vthen is reacted with an aqueous-hydrohalic acid, for example, hydrobromic, hydrochloric or hydroluoric acid, in a water-miscible organic solvent, for example, acetone, dioxane or methanol at moderate, temperatures, preferably fromV about Vl5" C. to about 40 C., to give the 12- ha1o3,1l,8 ,Yftriol (IX). Sir nilarly,Y anhydrous Vhydrogen halides can'also be used in anhydrous organic solvents such as, for example,chloroformfethylene dichloride, glacial acetic acid and the like to formA these compounds.

The halohydrin (IX) Vis treated with a suitable oxidizing agent as described above, for example, chromic acidy in an organic solvent acid mediumsuch as chloroformacetic acid or ethylene ydichloride-acetic acid at'moderate temperature, preferably from about 15 d C. to about 40 'The 12-ha103, 111,Y-si0n (X) 'then is reacted with a .dehalogenating'agent,jfor example, zinc in' acetic acid, chromous chloride, aluminum amalgam, hydrogen in the 'presence' of a catalyst such as a palladium catalyst at Vmoderate, temperatures, vpreferablyfrom about 15 C.

` then be. diacylated with nonreactive acyl groups inert tof v `,bromineY (using the same procedure as described above in connectionwith the 3,Y acylation of V3,12,Y/Striolv (I)r to' the diacylate (II) to produce Vthe `corresponding 3,Y- Y

preferably at Yabout 25-'C: The bromination can beV Y catalyzed by and hence is preferably carried out in the Vpresence of HBr. `Amixturefof 11a (VI) and llfbromo isomers results. vThe 11e:vr isomeris required for the formationlof .the 11,12-epoxide; preferably, therefore, the

AVorganic .extract from the bromination reaction may beV i concentrated and the isomers separated by' fractional crystallization from, for'example', methanol or. ethanol; `The resulting 11lat-bromo-S,Y-diol-lZ-one diacylate (VI) `then is'reduced'with a bimetallic hydride in an organic Ysolvent .such as'sodiumY borohydride injan aqueous a `eorganic solvent, inert to.reduction,- suchr'as Vaqueous ,5,

epimerization is'carriedv'out at moderate temperature of V`xnetlzia1iol or ethanoh'rorlithium Yaluminum hydridein a ','dry organic solvent, Vsuch as diethyl ether, dibutyl ether Y Yor tetrahydroiran atlmoderate temperatures, preferably roni-'about 1'5 7C..to. about-40* C. to yform a mixture of f'If` desired, the mixture of the acylated and free triol can *bev reacylatedY usingV the appropriatefacyl anhydride or Y;acyl chloride, for'example, thoseset forth above incon- ..nection with the formation of the diacylate compound Y 'Illin a tertiary base such as pyridine or in an inert .solvente such as dimethylformamide, acetone or dioxane Y' employing about one equivalent of an yacid binding agent,V

.Vforrexample, pyridine, tributylamine or picoline. If desired, the acyl groups'V can be removed by'hydrolysis bea YsiiimH-hydroxide Vorsodium hydroxide. in aqueous Y 'methanlfisopropanol oriethanol or such as'eollidine or torabout,v 40 C. to give,Y the desiredw3,11,Y-t`rione (XI). Itis apparent togone'skilledy in theart that with certain "of these dehalogenatingV agents, reduction' of the` oxo- .moieties will occurrsimultaneously. kIn such. examples the alcohol can be Voxidized under conditions described above tothe trione. r The preferred dehalogena'ting agent is'zinc in acetic acid.V l p EPIMERIZATION f Inpracticing the process of this invention, the '11abromo isomer is necessary as previously noted for formation of the 11,12-epoxide.r Thisisomer may be isolated by fractional crystallization, however, in this case the 11bromo isomer must be either reworked chemically or discarded. A simple method of converting the 11B- bromoV isomer to the necessary 11a isomer is, therefore, of great value. f

It has been'found possible to epimerize the 11p-bromo- 4pregnane-3,20-diol-l2-one ldiacylatecongeners of the 11a compounds of Formula VI either by treating a Ymixture of the 11a and llbromo compounds or bytreating the particular ll isomer obtained by the previously discussed fractional crystallization with a strong acid 4such as a mineralvacid, for example, sulfuric, phosphoric,

' or preferably alhydrohalic acid, for example,V Vhydrochloricor hydrobromvic, or an organic acid, such as phenyl sulfonio acid, p -toluene .sulfonic acid oracetic acid. The

about 15 C. to 40C., preferably at below about 25 C. a in an organic solvent, forexample, methanol, ethanol,

,isopropanloL dioxane, dimethylformamide, benzene, chloroform, jr'nethylene chloride orftetrahydrofuran. Up to about 85% of the desired lla isomer is obtained by this procedure. The 11d isomer is isolated and purified, if

-Ynecessary, by conventional'techniques, for example, by

' precipitation or fractional crystallization. When hydrolytic solvents such Vas alcoholic solvents or'a'queous mixture of solvents, for instance aqueous dioxane'or aqueous dimethylformamide are used, theV 3,20 protective groups :fare also hydrolyzed during'the epimerization steps in -which event 11a-brornopregnane-S,ZO-diol-lZ-one is recovered. If a non-hydrolytic organic solvent such as vdry benzene, chloroform, methylene `.chloride or tetrahydrofuran is used,.the acyl groups remain, intact andY lytic'si'.lvent'is resulting product Vcannon( be re.

nordest s duced with a bimetallic hydride as previously described with Vrespect to the 11a isomer obtained by fractional crystallization.

OTHER UTILITY OF INTERMEDIATES The intermediates formed in the above-described proccss are not only useful in the described process but also have other utility, for example, the 11,8,l2-epoxy regnane-3 z,20diol (VH1) can be used to prepare biologically active steroids, for example, when oxidized by chromic acid, it gives ll,l2-epoxypregnane3,20'dionc (XII) a potent general anesthetic. Also this intermediate itself (VIII) has useful central nervous system depressant properties such as a gentle sedative activity.

Also, the pregnane diolone diacetate (III) by treatment with hydrazine according to the Huang-Minion procedure results in the pregnane-diol which upon oxidation give rise to pregnane`3,20dione in excellent yield. This upon treatment with sodium borohydn'de gives the 3a-ol-20-one from which Reichsteins substance S, DOCA, and pregnan-21-ol-3,20dione, sodiohernisuccinate can be obtained.

Alternatively, pregnane-3,20-diol-12-one, diacetatc (III) upon selenium dioxide dihydrogenation yields A9(l1)-pregnene-3a,2O/S-diol12one diacetate from which the l2-oxo function can be removed according to the Huang-Minlon procedure resulting in 9(11)pregnene 3a,20diol diacetate, which is a useful intermediate, such as in the alternate introduction of the 1l-oxygen function according to known procedures.

UTILITY OF END PRODUCT TRIONES Pregnane-3,1l,20trione has a DOCA-like effect of lowering brain excitability and is useful in known procedures for the synthesis of cortisone which is a highly useful anti-inflammatory agent. For example, pregnanc- 3,l1,20trione can be converted to cortisone by the following steps:

(1) Reduction at 3 with sodium borohydride to form pregnan-3 a-ol-l 1,20-dione.

, (2) Acylation of position 3 and introduction of a 17ahydroxy group by the well-known Gallagher procedure.

(3) 'Ihe introduction of the 21hydroxy and S-keto A4 moieties as in United States Patent 2,752,339.

Allopregnane-3,1l,20-trione is useful in known procedures for the synthesis of the A4 and A14 congeners in the cortical hormone series, for instance cortisone, hydrocortisone or metacortandracin. Androstane-3,1l,17 trione may be similarly converted to .these pharmacodynamically active drugs by introducing suitable 17-substituents by known procedures and the A4 moiety, for instance by dibrominating at position 2, rearranging one bromine to position 4, removing the 2bromo and dehydrohalogenating. The A1 moiety may be introduced by known methods, such as with selenium dioxide or microbiological methods.

Testane-3,11,l7trione is useful to prepare cortisone congeners in the manner set forth above with respect to androstane-3,l1,17trione and by Sarretts procedure (Natural Products, Fieser, page 450).

The following examples are illustrative of the compounds Vand processes of this invention. It will be understood that where 12a-ol compounds are set forth, there will be some of the 12-ol and vice versa if the compounds in question have been reduced. 1n each case the predominant form is set forth.

EXAMPLE I REDUCTION OF PREGNANE-3a,12a-DIOL-20ONE DIACETATE (a) Catalytic hydrogenaton.-A stream of hydrogen is passed into a magnetically agitated mixture consisting of 9 g. of pregnante-3a,12a-diol-2'0-one diacetate [Adams et al., J. Chem. Soc., 11825, (l954)], 90 cc. of methanol,

.minutes while cooling the mixture.

9 g. of Raney nickel and 0.5 g. of potassium hydroxide. The hydrogen is readily absorbed during about two hours. After two and one-half hours, the uptake of hydrogen substantially ceases and the reaction is considered to be completed. The mixture is filtered and the filtrate diluted with 250 cc. of methanol. After the addi-tion of S g. of potassium hydroxide, the mass is heated under reux for two hours 'to etfect the hydrolysis of the acetate groups. The solution is concentrated Ito a low volume and then water is added. The slurry is extracted with ether and -the ether concentrated to obtain a first crop of 3.9 g. of pregnane-3a,l2a,20l8triol, M.P. 2325 C. An additional quantity, 3 g. of product melting at 22S to 232 C., is obtained from the mother liquor.

(b) Chemical reduction- Fifty grams of pregnane- 3a,12a, dio120onel diacetate in350 cc. of methanol, together with 3 g. of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in 25 cc. of water are stirred and warmed to 30 C. A solution of 3 g. of sodium borohydride in 20 cc. of water is added over a IS-minute period. After stirring for one hour, y20 g. of potassium hydroxide is added and the mixture is heated under reflux for 15 minutes, and the insoluble precipitate is removed by filtration. The ltrate is refluxed for one hour. It is -then concentrated to incipient crystallization and the residue cooled. The slurry is filtered to obtain 32 g. of pregnane-3a,l2a,20 triol, M.P., 232-236 C. From the ltrate an additional 2.5 g. M.P. 230-234 C. are obtained by extracting with ether and crystallizing from acetone.

EXAMPLE 1I OXIDATION OF THE TRIOL A mixture consisting of 40 g. of pregnane-3a,12a,20,8- triol prepared as in Example I, 1100 cc. of pyridine, 200 cc. of methylene chloride and 40 g. of succinic anhydride is heated at reflux for six hours. Then after most of the methylene chloride has been distilled in vacuo and l liter of ether added to the residue, the resulting mass is Washed with water, aqueous hydrochloric acid and water. The washed solution is concentrated to a low volume and the slurry filtered. The solid is washed with other and air dried. The product, 28 g. melts at 182 to 185 C. with preliminary shrinking between 130 and C. indicating a 'transition phenomenon.

The mother liquor on evaporation to dryness yields a solid product which is mono-hemisuccinate- This upon retreatment with succinic anhydride, pyridine and methylene chloride yields an additional quantity of dihemisuccinate (24.4 g.).

The crude ester upon recrystallization from acetone melts at 191 to 192 C.

To a solution of 30 g. of the ester in 120 cc. of glacial acetic acid, `a solution of 6 g. of chromic oxide in 12 cc. of water and 30 cc. of acetic acid is added during 10 The mass is agitated for two hours at about 25 C. After the addition of water, the mixture is extracted with ether and the extract washed with water. A portion of the washed extract upon concentration and long standing slowly crystallizes giving pregnaue-3ot,20diol12-one, dihemisuccinate, M.P. 180 to 182 C.

The ether is distilled from the balance of the extract and to the residue cc. of methanol and 18 g. of potassium hydroxide in 15 cc. of water are added. The mixture is reuxed for two hours and then methanol is removed (by distillation), whereby the free diol-one crystallizes. The slurry is cooled, diluted with water and filtered. The product melts at 215 to 220 C.

EXAMPLE III ACETYLATION oF PREGNANE-3a,2os-DroL-12-0Nn (n) Using pyridine-A mixture of 920 mg. of pregnane-3 a,20diol-12one, prepared as in Example II above, 4 cc. of pyridine and 4 ce. of acetic anhydride is heated 7 on a steam bath for three hours. Thereafter, the excess acetic Yanhydride is decomposed by the addition of water. The. oil whichappears isredissolved in the hotmixture Y which Viipoii cooling, deposits Ia crystalline solid. `The mixture is extracted with ether.VV 'Ihe Yether extracts are washed with Adilute hydrochloric acid, Water, dilute caustic soda and'tnally with water.' The washed extract is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and then concentrated to a low volume. Upon the addition of petroleum'ether, the product crystallizes. The slurry'is iiltered to give the solid, pregnane-3a,20-dioll2one vdiacetate, 720` mg., M.P. 13S-79 C. A further quantity Visobtained from'the Vmother liquor." f. "y

(b) Using perch'loric acid- To a solutionY of 15 gl of pregnane3a,20diol12one prepared( as in` Example Yl] above, in 15 cc. yacetic anhydride andBO'cc. of glacial acetic-acid, 2 drops of'perchloricacidis added. The mixture is cooled to control the exoth'ermic reaction and permitted to stand at about 25 C. for'about'45 minutes. -After the addition of'waterthe product is extractedwith ether and the 'extract washed with water,` aqueoussodium bicarbonateand finally with water.' :After drying thel washed extract, the mass is concentrated and the product crystallizes Ifrom a mixture ofV ether-petroleum ether. Thereby `pregnane-Sat,20]3-diol-12-one diacetate, M.P. 13S-7 C.Vis obtained. c

' 1 EXAMPLEIV Y 12KETO DLACETATE VIA TRIOL DLAVCETATE Y A mixture consistingV of 507g. of pregnane-3a,l2,20

tn'ol, prepared as described inrExample I above, 125 cc.

of pyridine and 40cc. of acetic anhydride is agitated forV Y ten minutes and then 10 cc. additional of acetic anhydride added.Y The agitation is Vcontinued for one-half hour, or until the dissolution ofthe solid is completed. The solution ispermitted Vto stand for one-ha1f hour and cc. of acetic anhydride is added, followed one-half hour later by aV further Iaddition of'S cc. of acetic anhydride. The mass is permitted to stand for about `16 hours,V then the mixture is Adiluted with Ywater to avolume of about 2 liters. Thecrystalline slurry is filtered andthe lter cake is lredissolvedv in ether. washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, water,l dilute aqueous caustic soda and nally'with water. Therwashed ether solution is evaporated to dryness and the residue recrystallized from 80% methanol. A rst crop of 30.5 g. of pregnane-3a,12a,20triol 3,20 diacetate, M.P. 125- 130 c. isobtained. K d Y Y v A solution prepared by warming 45 g. of the pregnan 3e,12a,20triol 3,20 diacetate, prepared as'above, in 180 50 cc. of acetic acid is permitted torcool. A mixture of 15 g. of chromic acid in 20 cc. of water and 4'0 cc. of acetic acid is added to this 'slurry in portions over a 20-minnte period. The mass is agitated for three hours at ambient vtemperature and then diluted with water. The mixture is extracted with ether. The ethereal extract -is washed with water,` aqueous sodium bicarbonate and nally with water.

The washed solution .is evaporated to dryness and theV residue redissolved vin anhydrous ether. The solution is concentrated to a low volume. The addition of petroleum ether causes the crystallization of 35.3k g. of pregnanc- 3a,20dioll2one diacetate, M.P., 125-130 C.

YThe crude product after recrystallization from hexane gives material crystallizing in the .form of needles, M.P., 13G-136 C..V v Y, y* Y VEXAMPLEV 'BROMINATION 0F PREGNANELSa,20-DIOLL12-0NE'- DI- ACETATE FOLLOWED BY EPIMERIZATION-HXDROL- YSIS To GIVE 11a-BROMOPREGNANE-3a,2o-DIOL-12- ONE Vone diacetate, prepared 'as in Exampleslll or IV above, -inflflg'ZSOl. of'dry chloroform, 5 cc.of1bromin'e and 80 .mliiof .20% hydrogenbrornide in glacial acetic acid jis .added to initiatethe bromination reaction. Thereafter the The ether solution is`4 .G5 cake is washed with Water.

balance of the bromination chargeV (1,243 g.) is added over fa 50.minute period. After the completion of the addition of bromine, the mass is permitted to standfor about 10 to 20 minutes. Y Y 5 Two such bromination masses are combined and washed with water. After the additionpf approximatelyflSOO cc. of saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate, there sultant slightly alkaline mass is decolored by the Vaddition 9f71200 ml.` of 10% aqueous sodium sulte. VThe mixture is 1n washed with water .until the aqueous washliquid is neutral to litmus. Y n Y f The neutral aqueous chloroform solutionris concentrated to incipient crystallization. Then 22 l. of methanol are added to the syrup. The mixture isY distilled to remove about 5 l. of distillate. The distilland isV agitated and cooled to 30 C. A solution of 1590 gr. of hydrogen chloride dissolved in 8,550 ml. of methanol is'addedto the' mass. The mixture almost immediately'scts 'to a crystalline mush which, upon being agitated, "gradually dissolves. The temperature of the resultant solution rises to 35 C. Themass is cooled'to below 10 C. and held at this temperature for atleast 24 hours. TheV resultant slurry is ltered and the lter cake washed with methanol. The washed cake is dried in a circulating hot air drier. 25 The product, 11a-bromopregnane-S,ZOidiol-lZ-one,

`M.P., 175 C. (dec.), together with a second'crop obtained by concentration of the mother liquor Vto 12 l. volume, 4,744 g. of produc-tis obtained. The mother liquor, after' the separation of the second crop material, contains essentially allof the ll-bromo isomer together with unchanged starting material and l labromo compound.. YTreatmentof thesemotherV liquors Vwith zinc and acetic acid debrominates the mixturerof, giving pregnane-3a,20-diol-12-one in a form suitable for :recycling inthislprocess. I

'Ihis example illustrates the process step Whereby'the vmixture of ll-bromocompounds is epimerized,Y inthe presence of halogen acid to a mixture comprising apreponderance of the llnt-bromo derivative, vand, simultane- 40 'ously hydrolyzes the' 3,20-diacetoxy groups. By' using instead of'methanol, a solventsuch `as glacial acetic acid, anhydrous vether or acetone, theV hydrolysis ofthe acetate inoietus canbe prevented and theproduct isolated as the 11m bromopregnane-3a,20diol12one.diacetate; We find it possible to isolate up'to85%"`yield of 11dbromo compound from such an epimerization reaction. VInitially on bromination, the Vratio of -isomersproduced is about a and 40% isomers. lThis epinierization is demonstrated 'by reaction of either epimerV in the-pure state with halogen acidto yield a mixtureY from which up to of the lla-bromo epimer can be isolated.

EXAMPLE; v1 v i REDUCTION 0F 11a-BROMOPREGNANE-3a.,20DIOL-12 ONE AND CLOSURE TO 11,12-EPOVXIDE Y A slurry of 10 g. of nely ground lla-'bromopregna'ne- ,30;,20-diol-12-one, prepared as in Example'V above, in cc. of methanol is warmed to 35" C.,'an'd^0.'5 5 g. of sodium borohydride in 5 ce. of Water isgadded.Y The heat 60 of reaction causes the temperature 'to riseito 45" C. at which temperature'-` complete solution occurs. 1 After vseveral minutes, the product'begins to"crystallize."-"Ihe 'mixture is agitated for one-half yhour and 'then'V 140 cc. of Water is slowly added. VThe slurry is filtered and the Yfilter kThe product, llabromopregnane'3a,l2,2O/Striol 'after drying, Weighs '9.7M Vg., M.P.,2034C. y This material is suspended in 80 cc. of methanol containing 4V g.l of potassium hydroxide.A flfhekmixture is 70 heated -tv'i'elux'for one-half hour. The Ysolution is concentrated to a low volume `andl125 cc. of .water added. Thefslurry is cooled andl-tered. The -iilter cake is Washed with Water and dried to give 7.8 g.Y of V1113,12@ '.epoXypregnane-3m20-di0l, M.P., vr18S-192 C.I This epoxide .can `be oxidized v.with .chroun'c. acidto .115.1213- low volume.

epoxypregnane-3,20dione, M.P., 139-142 C., or treated with halogen acids to form lthe corresponding halohydrins.

An aqueous slurry of 40 g. of the epoxide, produced as in Example Vd, in 700 cc. of acetone is stirred while 250 cc. of 4 N hydrobromic acid is added. The temperature rose to 42 C. A small amount 3.6 g. of insoluble starting material is ltered from .the solution and washed with 300 cc. of acetone. The clarified solution is diluted with 1400 cc. of water slowly, for about two hours. The resultant slurry is iiltered. The iilter cake is dried in air. The dried product, l2bromopregnane3a,ll,20triol, melts at l879 C. A further quantity is obtained by extraction of the aqueous mother liquor with methylene chloride. Total yield is 45 g. The corresponding chlorohydrin is obtained in an analogous manner using 4 N hydrochloric acid. By treatment of lthe epoxypregnane diol with aqueous hydrogen iiuoride in dioxane the ilucrohydrin results.

EXAMPLE VIII OXIDATION OF THE BROMOHYDRIN FOLLOWED BY DEBROMINATION A solution of 8l g. of 12 bromopregnane-3a,ll,20 triol; the product of Example VII, in 240 cc. of methylene chloride is mixed with 320 cc. of glacial acetic acid. The mixture is cooled and maintained at 2025 C. during the addition of a solution of 60 g. of chromic acid in 80 cc. of water and 80 cc. of acetic acid (20 minutes). The mixture is agitated for two hours and then diluted with water. The mass is extracted with three portions of methylene chloride. The combined washed with water. The solvent solution is debrominated by the addition of 60 cc. of glacial acetic acid followed by the portionwise addition of 32 g. of zinc. During the latter addition the temperature is permitted to rise to 40 C. The mixture is agitated for 40 minutes, decanted` from the spent zinc residue and the solvent solution washed with water. The washed solution is concentrated to about 150 cc. and diluted with 500 cc. of ether. The resultant crystalline slurry is distilled to remove 425 cc. of distillate. The residue is cooled and ltered. The fdter cake is washed with ether and dried. In this manner, 42.2 g. of pregnane-3,l1,20-trione, M.P., l57-l60 C., is obtained.

The resultant trione, by reduction with sodium borohydride by the method of Gallagher et al. .[J. Am. Chem. Soc., 75, 2356 (1953)] yields pregnane-3a-ol-1L20- dione. This product is then converted by the method of Gallagher (U.S. Patent No. 2,562,030) to pregnanc- 3a,l7adioll1,20-dione-3eacetate which is thereafter converted to cortisone acetate as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,752,339. A

EXAMPLE IX` REDUCTION F 11a-BROMOPREGNANE-3a,20-DIOL-1- ONE 3,20-D1ACETATE (a) Bromznation.-Pregnane3 a,20diol 12 one diacetate g.), made as in Example IV, is dissolved in 25 cc. of chloroform and a portion of the requisite amount, 2.1 g., of bromine dissolved in 5 cc. of chloroform is added, followed by the addition of two drops of methanol. In about tive minutes the solution becomes discolored, indicating the reaction of the bromine. The balance of the bromine is added dropwise over a tenminute interval and the mass is permitted to stand for ten minutes. The mixture is concentrated in vacuo to a The residue is dissolved in ether. The ether solution is washed with water, aqueous sodium bicarbonate, and a iinal Water wash. The washed solution is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The dried solution is evaporated to a yellow oily residue which is dissolved in cc. of methanol. This solution is permitted to stand and the product fractionally crystallized extracts are ..10 to obtain 2.05 g. of prisms, M.P., IS7-161 C., the 11aepimer and 1.80 g. of needles, M.P., 151-153" C., essentially the ll-epimer. The lla-bromopregnane- 3u,20dioll2-one 3,20-diacetate is recrystallized from tive parts of methanol to yield the pure compound, M.P., 16S-5 C.

(b) Reduction- A solution of 1 g. of 11a-bromopregnane-3a,20dioll2-one-3,20diacetate, in l5 cc. of methanol is agitated, as a solution of 300 mg. of sodium bicarbonate in 1.5 cc. of water is added. The resultant crystalline slurry is cooled to about 27 C. and 100 me. of sodium borohydride dissolved in 0.75 cc. of water is added. The mixture is agitated for two hours during which the crystalline solid goes into solution and shortly thereafter a precipitate forms. The mixture is diluted with water and extracted with ether. The extract is washed Iwith water and then evaporated to dryness. The crude residue, about l g. of a White fluiy material, is dissolved in 5 cc. of acetic `anhydride Iand 1 cc. of'pyridine. The solution is warmed on a steam bath for one hour, permitted to stand for one hour, and then the excess acetic anhydride lis decomposed with water. The mixture is extracted with ether. The extract is washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, water, aqueous sodium bicarbonate, iand iinally with water. The washed extract is concentrated and the product is crystallized from etherpetroleum ether, yielding 600 mg. of lla-bromopregnano-3a,l2,20triol3,20diacetate, M.P., 147-150 C. Upon recrystallization from aqueous methanol, the product melts at 154-6o C.

The bromohydrin so obtained is converted by treatment with alcoholic KOH into the ll,l2-epoxypreg nane-3e,20diol.

EXAMPLE X methylene chloride is heated at reflux for ve hours.

The solvent is removed and the residue is worxed up to give the mono and dihemisuccinates as in Example II. The monosuccinate is reworked to give additional disuccinate.

A solution of 30 g. of the crude diester in 125 cc. of glacial acetic acid is oxidized with a solution of 6 g. of chromic oxide in l2 cc. of water at room temperature. After quenching with water and extraction of the l2- ketoester with ether the residue obtained by evaporating the ether is heated at reux with 18 g. of potassium hydroxide in `aqueous methanol. The methanol is evaporated and the resulting solid is water Washed, taken through ether and recrystallized to give allopregnane- 3,20-diol12-one.

A solution of 20 g'. of the ketone in 20 cc. of acetic anhydride and 30 cc. ofacetic acid with 2 drops of perchloric acid is allowed to stand at about room temperature for two hours. After Working up as in Example IIIUJ), allopregnane-3,20-dioll2-one diacetate is obtained. Sixteen grams of this ester in cc. of chloroform are brominated with 6 g. of bromine following the procedure of Example V. The crude product thereof is used to react with methanolic hydrochloric acid at 30 to 35 C. The solid product after recrystallization from aqueous methanol is lla--bromoallopregnane-3,208diol 12-one.

A mixture of 5 g. of the a-bromo compound in 75 cc. of methanol is mixed with a solution of 0.5 g. of sodium borohydiide in 5 cc. of water. The mixture is warmed until the reaction is completed. After two hours at room temperature, the mixture is diluted with e potassium carbonate'andwith'v water. Y lution is concentrated `to a volume Vof about 35 cc. and after dilution lwith 'a mixture of 75 cc.V of ether .and 75 V"crystallization. A

v4product, a`niixture of the llaand ll-bromotestane- ?17dioll2one-V diacetate, melts' between 145 Yand 50C u This mixture of bomoketones is "separated by fractional crystallization from methanol to yield colorless, flong,"tlat prisms meltingrat 164166 C. with previous -sinteringY at 160"- C. whichis theY predominant 11a- =ibrom'o-l2l eto-iscun'er.A A'-Ihe less soluble ll-bromo-IZ- ketone is obtainedassho'rt prisms melting-at ISI-183 C.(dec.).. j

Y Y l1 .150 cc. ot water. 'f The solid, after 'filtration and drying, -is heated ]atre11ux in j50 ccrfof methanol with 2 g. of lpotassium llyrlroxide.-Y The reaction mixture is allowed toevaporatefon-thesteam bath, then diluted with water Vto, visolate v1U3,l21S-epoxyallopregnane-S,3,20-diol. Y,

i A solution of 1.4 g. of the epoxide in 40 cc. of dioxane issaturated withV hydrogen ,bromide gas. After standing "at Yroom temperature for tive hours, the mixtureY is diluted'vwith water to separate a solidV whichais recrystal- Y A- solution iof 4.0 g. of the V12-bromo compound in 30 cc. -ofrmethylene chloride Yand 25Vcc. of acetic acid is jcooledandgreacted with 3.0 g. of chromicacid in 5cc. 'of 50% water-acetic acid mixture at room temperature. Y After four hours of swirling, the reaction mixture -is Ydiluted with water and extracted with several portions 'ofA methylenechloride; The organic extracts are combined, washed and'reacted with 1.8 g. of zinc and l0 ce. of glacial acetic acid.' After one hour at room temperature, the organic supernatant liquid `is decanted, 'washed with water, concentrated and diluted with ether. The product, obtained by cooling and filtering the slurry, -is 1. 5 g. vof allopregnane-3,l1,20trione.

Armixture of 3.1 g. of te'stane3a,l2a,17triol, prepared according `to Yknown procedures from pregnanc- 3a, 12adiol20,one diacetate, 10 cc. of pyridine and 4.5 g. of succim'c anhydride is heated on Vthe steam bath .'Vfrorgeight hours. The mixture is permitted to stand for aboutJl` hours and then diluted with water. The mass is extracted with ether and the extract washed with dilute hydrochloric acid. and water. The ether is removed and the residue', `4.9 g., consisting essentially of 35 acetic anhydride the presence of 5 ml. of pyridine to .yield' the corresponding 39s,17-diacetate, M.P., 1877- solutionof 19.5 got the diacetate inr80 ccrof methylene chloride is agitated at ambient temperature dun'ng the dropwise addition of 8.8 g. of bromine dissolved in cc. of methylene chloride. The reaction is initiated by the addition of V0.4 cc. of 20% hydrogen bromide in acetic acid. The bromination mass is poured -into water and sutiicient sodium bisulte added to discharge the Vexcess bromine.

Y The aqueous layer is separated and the solvent solution is washed with aqueous The washed socc. of n-hexane is again concentrated until incipient The mass vis cooledrand filtered. The

A solution of 5 Vlg. of 1la-bromo-testane-Sa,17-diolg l2-one diacetate in 50 cc. of methanolY is reduced with 0.5 g. of sodium borohydridc dissolved in 5 cc. of water.

During the addition of the reducing agent (5 minutes),

`vigorous gas evolution occurs and the temperature of from methat '12 f the mixture Yrises to about 45 C. The mass is permitted torstannd for about minutes. Thereafter 2.5 g. of potassium hydroxide is added and the mixture heated to and maintained at its boil-ing point for ll/zfhours. After 5 the addition of 25 cc. `of water, the resultant slurry is concentra'tedto remove 40 cc. of distillate and the residuediluted tof200 cc.,with water. The mass is cooled to Vabout 5 C. and ltered. The 'filter cake is washed with wateruntil neutral Yand then dnied. The crude l0 product, l1;12epoxytestane-3a,17-diol, contaminated With testane-3,l7dioll2one, melted atr205235 C.

The crude product Vlis puried by treatment with AGil'ards'T reagent. The epoxide fraction so .obtained melts at 20G-210 C.V afteralkaline purilication with 2 15 'gl of potassiuml hydroxide'inf50 ml. of aqueous methanel to regenerate epoxide'from any halohydrin formed vduring treatment with 'the acetic acid and Girardsl T reagent. This product is purified further by recrystalliza- -tion from methanol.

2,0 The epoxide (2 g.) -is converted to theV 12bromo11 hydroxy-testane derivative by treatment with an excess.

Y, EXAMPLE X11 Following the procedure of Example XI, using equivalent amounts Aof reagents, androstane-3,12,17triol, prepared ffrom allopregnane-3-ol-12,20dione in known manner, is 3,17-diacylated-With acetic anhydride, l2- oxidized withchromic anhydride'and brominated at l1 with Vbromine-'chloroform'lreagent` The purified llabromoe12-'oneisreduced at the 12-'one group` with sodium borohydride. The llglZ-epoxide is formed by treatmentof the l1bromo-12ol`with strong alkali. Y This epoxidezi's caused tonreactwith hydrobromic acid solution, fand lthe resulting 1l-ol12bromo compound is oxidizedat 3', '11'. and 17 with chromic anhydride and the in which Rjfisafmember selected from'the group consisting of the reaction is carried out in a hydrolytic solvent and the ester groups are hydrolyzed.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the acid is acetic acid. 2,447,325 4. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which 5 2,554,882 the acid is a minerai acid. 2,782,211 5. The method in accordance with claim 4 in which 2,810,734

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gallagher Aug. 17, 1948 Reichstein May 29, 1951 Wettstein Feb. 19, 1957 Herzog et a1. Oct. 22, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Meystre et al., He1v. Chim. Acta., vol. 32 (1949), pages 1978-1992. (Pages 1982, 1988, and 1989 neces- 

1. THE METHOD OF EPIMERIZING A COMPOUND HAVING THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 